Opinion

From the critics

Community Activity

Quotes

“It is a good idea sometimes to think of the importance and dignity of our every-day duties. It keeps them from being so tiresome; besides, others are apt take us at our own valuation. ”

SAPPHIREBEAR15
Jun 16, 2012

“Remember well, and bear in mind, a constant friend is hard to find.”

SAPPHIREBEAR15
Jun 16, 2012

“As you read my stories of long ago I hope you will remember that things truly worthwhile and that will give you happiness are the same now as they were then. It is not the things you have that make you happy. It is love and kindness and helping each other and just plain being good. ”

SAPPHIREBEAR15
Jun 16, 2012

“Laura felt a warmth inside her. It was very small, but it was strong. It was steady, like a tiny light in the dark, and it burned very low but no winds would make it flicker because it would not give up.”

SAPPHIREBEAR15
Jun 16, 2012

“The only stupid thing about words is the spelling of them.”

SAPPHIREBEAR15
Jun 16, 2012

“Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time.”

SAPPHIREBEAR15
Jun 16, 2012

“Home is the nicest word there is.”

SAPPHIREBEAR15
Jun 16, 2012

“There's no great loss without some small gain.”

SAPPHIREBEAR15
Jun 16, 2012

“I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.”

SAPPHIREBEAR15
Jun 16, 2012

“The real things haven't changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong.”

Comment

A travel log of the Wilder trip to DeSmet in 1894 which was later published by RWL. The bleakness of the Wilder’s situation and life during a prolonged great plains drought that is largely forgotten comes through.
However, the little book’s factual verasity must always be questioned as it is a RWL publication. No better way to put it, she was a mess. Historical accuracy was always secondary to fiction. For an excellent example of her personality read the caption to photo of her facing page one (no surprise) where she has perfect memory of what occured when she was two. As to the debunked debate over LIW authorship of the series, this book is a good example to show how RWL would have destroyed the series if her mother had accepted her daughter’s advise on everything. Fortunately Laura was able to grow as a writer and put her daughter’s role on the shelf.

This book is a trip diary written by Laura Ingalls Wilder, sandwiched between two story chapters written by Laura’s daughter, Rose Wilder Lane. It is a Sunday drive of a book that pleasantly but somewhat monotonously updates us on the Little House family.

Going by this book alone, it is a big stretch to believe that Laura wrote the Little House books and no stretch at all to believe they were actually the work of her daughter, Rose.